Learn about the role of vultures in our environment at World Center for Birds of Prey, Saturday, Sept. 1

30 August 2012

BOISE, Idaho – Learn about the vital role that vultures – nature’s efficient clean-up crew -- play in our environment on Saturday, September 1, at The Peregrine Fund’s World Center for Birds of Prey.

The celebration is part of International Vulture Awareness Day, being held around the world to highlight an important group of scavenging birds that is increasingly threatened with extinction due to poisoning and other human activities.

Special activities at the World Center for Birds of Prey include an art project by wildlife artist Karyn de Kramer, who will help children paint a vulture portrait to be displayed at the interpretive center. Other activities are games and films featuring condors and vultures.

Visitors can get eye-to-eye with hawks, owls, falcons, and eagles at presentations from 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Among the featured birds will be Lucy, an 11-year-old Turkey Vulture. Lucy arrived at the World Center for Birds of Prey when she was 5 months old after being rescued from people who had taken her illegally from the wild. Visitors also can enjoy close-up views of a pair of California Condors on display in the new Condor Cliffs exhibit.

The Archives of Falconry will be open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Highlights include an authentic hunting tent and other displays from the Middle East, art, books, sculpture, and artifacts.